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    Home » Recipes » Recipes for Toddlers & Kids

    Noodle & Beef Chow Mein | Family Dinner

    Published: May 11, 2020 · Modified: Jul 29, 2020 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 65 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. #chow #mein #beef #noodles #family #dinner #recipe #thermomix #conventional #healthy #cabbage #vegetable

    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. 

    A bowl of beef, noodles, vegetables and peanuts.

    Who needs:

    • a quick and easy family dinner
    • a budget-friendly recipe
    • a meal the whole family will love
    • a dinner recipe where you can freeze the leftovers (and there WILL be leftovers!!)

    .... then Beef Chow Mein is the recipe for you!

    A fork in a bowl of healthy beef chow mein with vegetables and noodles.

    Budget-Friendly Chow Mein Ingredients

    This old fashioned recipe is a great money saving dinner that certainly wont break the bank!

    You'll need:

    • olive oil
    • minced garlic and ginger - you can mince your own fresh garlic cloves and ginger or you can use store-bought jars of pre-minced (which is what I do!)
    • brown onion - medium sized and finely chopped
    • beef mince - I generally use lean beef mince, however you can use any beef mince you have available
    • curry powder - I use Keens brand but any store-bought curry powder is fine
    • carrots 
    • cabbage - use finely sliced white or green cabbage for this recipe
    • noodles - I generally use thin hokkien noodles, but you can also use Singapore noodles, 2 minute instant noodles or even spaghetti broken into pieces

    For the sauce: 

    • liquid vegetable stock - use store-bought liquid vegetable stock or make your own using water and vegetable stock powder
    • oyster sauce - this can be bought from the Asian section of any amor supermarket
    • soy sauce - you can use light or dark soy sauce for this recipe

    The ingredients for noodle and beef chow mein.

    30 Minute Old School Beef Chow Mein

    Want to have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes? Our beef chow mein is the perfect midweek family dinner. 

    *Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the full detailed method (as well as additional Thermomix instructions).

    Step 1 - Brown the beef mince and onion

    Beef mince and onion in a frying pan.

    Step 2 - Add the curry powder, minced garlic and ginger

    Curry powder, minced garlic and ginger being added to fried beef mince and onion.

    Step 3 - Add the vegetables and sauce ingredients

    Cabbage, carrot, soy sauce and oyster sauce in a frying pan.

    Curry powder coated noodles, beef mince and vegetables.

    Step 4 - Stir through the noodles

    Noodles on top of beef, carrot and cabbage in a frying pan.

    A frying pan full of noodles, beef and vegetables.

    Recipe Notes & Tips

    Curry powder - 2 teaspoon of curry powder (as per the recipe) will give you a very mild tasting chow mein (this is the amount I use when I cook this recipe for my family, including my young son). If you want a stronger flavour, then simply add an extra teaspoon of curry powder.

    Cabbage - it might seem like you're adding a LOT of cabbage to the frying pan, but it cooks down to virtually nothing! Even if you're not a fan of cabbage, make sure you include it in this recipe... you can't taste it once cooked as it takes on the flavour of the sweet oyster and soy sauces.

    Noodles - the hokkien noodles can be replaced with Singapore noodles, 2 minute instant noodles or even spaghetti broken into pieces.

    Beef substitutes - you can substitute the beef mince for chicken, pork or lamb mince. Alternatively you can use sliced chicken breasts instead.

    Thickening the sauce - if you'd like to thicken your chow mein sauce even further, dissolve 1 tbs of cornflour with ¼ cup of water and mix through during the last minute of cooking.

    Serving suggestions - Serve chow mein with extra soy sauce, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds (optional).

    A bowl of noodles, cabbage, carrot and beef chow mein.

    Storing & Freezing Chow Mein

    This is one of those delicious recipes that's even better when reheated!

    Chow mein can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    Alternatively, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. 

    A fork with noodles, carrot, peanuts and cabbage.

    More Freezer-Friendly Family Dinners

    If you love a quick and easy family dinners (that can also be prepped ahead of time and frozen!), then check out my collection of easy dinners here.

    A collection of images of homemade main meals that can be frozen.

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. #chow #mein #beef #noodles #family #dinner #recipe #thermomix #conventional #healthy #cabbage #vegetable

    Noodle & Beef Chow Mein

    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. 
    5 from 43 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Asian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 serves
    Calories: 500kcal
    Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

    Ingredients

    • 2 tbs oil
    • 500 g beef mince
    • 1 brown onion chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tbs ginger finely minced
    • 2 teaspoon curry powder more or less depending on your taste preferences
    • 2 carrots finely chopped
    • ½ cabbage shredded
    • 250 ml water
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder
    • ⅓ cup oyster sauce
    • 2 tbs soy sauce
    • 350 g Singapore noodles or thin hokkien noodles
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Conventional Method

    • Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the beef mince and chopped onion.
    • Saute until the mince has browned and the onion has softened (approx 5 minutes).
    • Add the garlic, ginger and curry powder and cook until fragrant (approx 1-2 minutes).
    • Add the carrots, cabbage, water, vegetable stock powder, oyster sauce and soy sauce and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, prepare the noodles according to the packet instructions.
    • Drain noodles and add to the chow mein.
    • Stir to combine and cook for a further 1 minute.
    • Serve with extra soy sauce, sesame seeds or chopped peanuts.

    Thermomix Method

    • Place the garlic and brown onion into the TM bowl and chop on Speed 6 for 5 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add the carrot and chop by pressing Turbo 4-5 times (or until it's the chunkiness you desire).
    • Add the minced ginger and the oil. Saute on Varoma, Reverse Speed 2 for 4 minutes.
    • Add the beef mince and cook on Varoma, Reverse Speed 2 for 4 minutes.
    • Add the curry powder, vegetable stock, oyster sauce, soy sauce and the cabbage to the bowl. Cook on 100 degrees, Reverse Speed 1 for 4 minutes (you'll need to use the spatula to push the cabbage down).
    • Meanwhile place the noodles into the ThermoServer and cover with boiling water (time will be specified on the packet).
    • Drain the noodles and add to the TM bowl. Mix on Reverse Speed 2 for 1 minute (using the spatula to help mix everything together).
    • Place into the ThermoServer and leave for 10-15 minutes to thicken.
    • Serve with a little extra soy sauce, sesame seeds or chopped peanuts.

    Notes

    RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
    Ingredients Info:
    • minced garlic and ginger – you can mince your own fresh garlic cloves and ginger or you can use store-bought jars of pre-minced (which is what I do!)
    • brown onion – medium sized and finely chopped
    • beef mince – I generally use lean beef mince, however you can use any beef mince you have available. Alternatively, you can substitute the beef mince for chicken, pork or lamb mince. Alternatively you can use sliced chicken breasts instead. 
    • curry powder – I use Keens brand but any store-bought curry powder is fine. 2 teaspoon of curry powder (as per the recipe) will give you a very mild tasting chow mein (this is the amount I use when I cook this recipe for my family including my young son). If you want a stronger flavour, then simply add an extra teaspoon of curry powder. 
    • cabbage – use finely sliced white or green cabbage for this recipe. It might seem like you’re adding a LOT of cabbage to the frying pan, but it cooks down to virtually nothing! Even if you’re not a fan of cabbage, make sure you include it in this recipe… you can’t taste it once cooked as it takes on the flavour of the sweet oyster and soy sauces. 
    • noodles – I generally use thin hokkien noodles, but you can also use Singapore noodles, 2 minute instant noodles or even spaghetti broken into pieces
    • liquid vegetable stock – use store-bought liquid vegetable stock or make your own using water and vegetable stock powder
    • oyster sauce – this can be bought from the Asian section of any amor supermarket 
    • soy sauce – you can use light or dark soy sauce for this recipe
    Extra Recipe Tips:
    Thickening the sauce – if you’d like to thicken your chow mein sauce even further, dissolve 1 tbs of cornflour with ¼ cup of water and mix through during the last minute of cooking.
    Serving suggestions – Serve chow mein with extra soy sauce, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds (optional).
    Storing & freezing - Chow mein can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Alternatively, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 955mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3470IU | Vitamin C: 30.5mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2.4mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @BakePlaySmileBlog or tag #BakePlaySmile!

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    Comments

    1. Scott says

      January 02, 2025 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      Top notch recipe, very much like how I remember my mums chow mein, especially the Keens Curry, which was always a winner!
      I’ve made this 6 or 7 times now and the whole family like it, I even do a small serve without the mince for the vegetarian in the family.

      Reply
    2. Scott O'Brien says

      January 02, 2025 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      Top notch recipe, very much like how I remember my mums chow mein, especially the Keens Curry, which was always a winner!
      I’ve made this 6 or 7 times now and the whole family like it, I even do a small serve without the mince for the vegetarian in the family.

      Reply
    3. Carol Kempton says

      June 02, 2022 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      I’ve been making this dish for many years now, but with a couple of tweaks, but the same delicious outcome. I always make way too much so I freeze into portions, I always leave some in the fridge as they make the best jaffles the next day. I put a bit of tomato sauce over the filling before putting the top piece of bread on and closing the jaffle iron. I urge you to try it, as it always tastes better the next day

      Reply
      • Lucy says

        June 02, 2022 at 9:36 pm

        Fantastic! Thanks for the tips!!

        Reply
    4. MICHELLE Batten says

      September 12, 2021 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Lucy
      This is the second time I have cooked this recipe in the thermomix. The first time it was delicious. This time, it was mushy and a bit watery. I'm not sure what I did wrong? Should I have still added the 250mls of water in the thermomix? Thanks for your help Lucy. Regards Michelle

      Reply
      • Lucy says

        September 13, 2021 at 2:04 pm

        Hi Michelle, hmm that is very strange if you made it twice in the Thermomix and got a different result. Have you checked if your scales are measuring correctly? I cant think of why else it could be different using the same recipe!? x

        Reply
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    Recipe Rating




    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. #chow #mein #beef #noodles #family #dinner #recipe #thermomix #conventional #healthy #cabbage #vegetable

    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

    More about me →

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    Our deliciously simple old school noodle & beef chow mein recipe is packed full of cabbage, carrot, beef mince, curry powder and noodles - a classic family favourite. #chow #mein #beef #noodles #family #dinner #recipe #thermomix #conventional #healthy #cabbage #vegetable

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